Lyman F. Hoffman (born February 13, 1950) is a Yup'ik politician and Democratic member of the Alaska Senate since 1995. He represents the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska Peninsula, and Aleutian Islands. He also served in the Senate from 1991 to 1993 previously, and was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1987−91 and 1993−95.
Lyman Hoffman | |
|---|---|
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| Majority Leader of the Alaska Senate | |
| In office July 9, 2019 – January 19, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Mia Costello |
| Succeeded by | Shelley Hughes |
| Member of the Alaska Senate | |
| Assumed office January 16, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | George Jacko |
| Constituency | T (1995–2003) S (2003–present) |
| In office January 21, 1991 – January 18, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | John Binkley |
| Succeeded by | Rick Halford |
| Constituency | M |
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives | |
| In office January 18, 1993 – January 16, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Ivan Ivan |
| Constituency | 39 |
| In office January 19, 1987 – January 21, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | John Binkley |
| Succeeded by | Ivan Ivan |
| Constituency | 25 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 13, 1950 Bethel, Territory of Alaska, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Republican (caucus) |
| Spouse | Lillian |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Alaska, Fairbanks (BA) |
In January 2019, Hoffman became the longest-serving member in the history of the Alaska Legislature, surpassing the tenure of Jay Kerttula, the previous record holder.[1]
Partisan affiliation
editHoffman was the only registered Democrat to caucus with the Republicans in the Senate from 2015 to 2023.[2] He endorsed Republican nominee Dan Sullivan over Senator Mark Begich during the 2014 U.S. Senate race.[3] From 2007 to 2013 and again since 2023, Hoffman has been a member of a bipartisan majority coalition of Democrats and Republicans.
Controversy
editOn May 1, 2004, Hoffman was arrested for erratic driving and for striking a home with his car. He refused to take a breathalyzer test and later pled guilty to the charges. He was sentenced to three days in jail by Judge Peter Froehlich, which began on July 6. Hoffman also had his driver's license revoked for 90 days, was placed on probation for one year, and was fined $1,500.[4][5]
In 2013, Hoffman was found guilty of violating financial disclosure laws by the Senate Committee on Legislative Ethics. Between 2008 and 2010, Hoffman hid between "$311,000 and $690,000" in income from his business interests in a company that primarily contracts with a state-funded agency. From Alaska Public Media, "The committee found that Senator Hoffman "knowingly" prepared and filed incomplete disclosures, leaving out a "substantial" amount of income."[6][when?]
In 2016, Hoffman was the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, whose plan to address the state's fiscal crisis focused on cutting services and capping the Permanent Fund Dividend.[7] Critics note that the hardest hit areas from slashing the PFD are in Hoffman's district.[8] However, Hoffman has also called the dividend the "first call" on revenue from Permanent Fund earnings.[9]
References
edit- ^ Downing, Suzanne (November 17, 2020). "Sen. Jay Kerttula dies in Juneau, age 92". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ Matheson, Ben (November 6, 2014). "Senator Lyman Hoffman to Caucus with Majority". KYUK. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
- ^ Matheson, Ben (October 24, 2014). "Lyman Hoffman Endorses Dan Sullivan for Senate". KYUK. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
- ^ "Hoffman sentenced on drunk driving charge". Juneau Daily News. June 29, 2004. Retrieved September 26, 2008.
- ^ Maria Downey (June 29, 2004). "Bethel senator sentenced for drunken driving". stopthemaddness.org.
- ^ Matheson, Ben (November 7, 2013). "Legislative Ethics Committee Says Senator Hoffman Failed to Disclose Income". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
- ^ Brooks, James (February 24, 2017). "Senate Majority unveils plan including spending cap, big cuts and Permanent Fund spending to fix the budget". Juneau Empire. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
- ^ Kitchenman, Andrew (July 6, 2017). "PFD Cut Affects Some Alaskans More Than Others". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
- ^ "Brad Keithley's Chart of the Week: The misleading narrative and its consequences".
External links
edit
Media related to Lyman Hoffman at Wikimedia Commons
- Alaska State Legislature – Senator Lyman Hoffman official AK Senate website
- Project Vote Smart – Representative Lyman F. Hoffman (AK) profile
- Follow the Money – Lyman F. Hoffman
- Lyman Hoffman at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature
- Appearances on C-SPAN
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